Where to begin is often the most difficult question. The Florida Marchman Act Services is here to help you, step by step, from before, all the way to the end of the petition process. In the beginning, even if you aren’t sure if this is the direction you want to go, it can be helpful to speak with a professional to discuss your options.
After that, receiving and filing the appropriate paperwork is essential to prevent a long and drawn out process. Once the paperwork has been signed and filed with a County Clerk, either a Sheriff or a Certified Process Server will serve your loved one with the petition.
The next step will be a court date where a Magistrate will prepare a report and recommendation for an Order of Assessment for the Judge’s signature. After that, the Judge will decide whether to approve or dismiss the petition, and, if approved, your loved one will be taken to a licensed facility for assessment or treatment.
Once in a facility, the physician on hand will perform an assessment deciding whether your loved one will benefit from a longer term stay in treatment, which will be brought back through the court to assign a petition for treatment.
If your loved one chooses to leave treatment early, needs a longer stay, or does not complete for any other reason, the petitioner can choose to file further documentation requiring the individual to complete a longer duration of treatment.